MICHIGAN - Continued 
The number of potential nesting wood ducks seen per lineal 
mile of census route was higher than in the previous 3 years and 
above the 10-year average. Higher counts were recorded only for 
1953 and 1955. Wood ducks made up 1.8 percent of all nesting 
species. This is comparable to the 10-year average. 
Production Indices 
The brood survey comparisons follow: 
Hens and Bachelor Average size 
Broods per young per ducks per of broods 
Year lineal mile lineal mile lineal mile observed 
1949 7 2.75 6.50 6.00 
1950 34 2.32 5.50 5.87 
1951 035 2.20 3.31 5.76 
1952 «70 3.92 3.21 4.60 
1953 51 3.63 h 32 6.10 
| 1954 «20 1.67 4.60 6,24 
1955 64 465 5.09 6.28 
1956 +53 3.67 Lito 5.86 
1957 38 2,30 4,80 5.10 
1958 31 2.18 6.50 5.97 
1959 .66 4.00 12.58 5,06 
a a A i A 
The average mumber of broods seen per lineal mile 
exceeded the figure for any of the preceding years except 1952. 
The average size of the broods remained equal to the past 10~year 
average. The number of bachelor birds, however, was the highest 
on record. 
Conclusions 
Judging from both surveys, waterfowl production for 1959 
in Michigan approximated the 10-year average and differed very 
little from that of last year. Any change that might be indicated 
would tend toward a slight improvement over last year's production. 
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